Knee injury prevents Janne Ahonen from taking part in Olympic team event
”My leg still hurts like hell, there’s no denying it. We have reached the decision that I will not jump”, Ahonen told Helsingin Sanomat.
Finnish team physician Harri Hakkarainen still had hopes after Saturday’s MRI scan that Ahonen might be able to continue his participation in the Games.
“For me it was clear more or less from the beginning that
with an injured knee one has no business going to the hill, let alone
reap any success. Clowning around in the Olympic Games serves no
purpose”, Ahonen said.
Ahonen, a five-time World
Champion, hurt his left knee when he failed the landing of his
128.5-metre jump during the Saturday trial round for the large hill
individual event.
Ahonen, who is one of the most successful ski-jumpers of all
time, has never succeeded in securing an Olympic gold medal. With only
two team silvers on his Olympic CV, Ahonen decided to take part in the
individual large hill in his fifth Olympic Games, but pulled out after
the first round.
“In retrospect I should not have taken part even in the first round”, Ahonen commented.
“The injury itself is what worries me. I failed a competition
but that is normal. It is part of the sport. I just hope the trauma
will not affect too many of the remaining competitions this season.”
Four Hills Tournament Result
1. Kofler, Andreas AUT 1027.2
2. Ahonen, Janne FIN 1013.9
3. Loitzl, Wolfgang AUT 1011.6
4. Schlierenzauer, G. AUT 1011.1
5. Ammann, Simon SUI 1008.3
6. Morgenstern, Th. AUT 987.1
7. Bodmer, Pascal GER 936.2
8. Koch, Martin AUT 935.0
9. Malysz, Adam POL 932.9
10. Jacobsen, A. NOR 927.5
